Improvement in machines for cutting the heads of fence-pickets



' A. BU BNHAM.

Machines for Cutting the Heads of Fence-Pickets.

Patented Nov. 4,1873.

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WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

ANDREW BURNHAM, OF REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING THE HEADS OF FENCE-PICKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,187, dated November4, 1873; application filed May 24, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW BURNHAM, of Revere, in the county of Sufi'olkand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Machines for Cutting the Heads of Fence-Pickets, of which thefollowing is a specification:

This invention relates to a machine by which the heads or tops of flatfence-pickets are cut or shaped to the form of a Gothic arch and theinvention consists in a bed, which supports the picket when being out,and a vibrating adjustable knife or cutter affixed to apivoted lever, bywhich the knife is moved through the are of a circle during the processof cutting each edge of the picket, and which is raised or lowered asthe width of the pickets renders necessary, the lever-pivot beingadjustable in relation to the bed for the purpose of changing the radiusof the curve in which the knife moves, so as to produce heads of variouslines of curvature upon pickets of the same width; and the inventionalso consists in an adjustable cutting-block, against which the knife isforced as it leaves the picket. It also consists in the construction andarrangement of the cutter-holder and of the lever-stop.

Figure l is a top or plan view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation; and Fig. 3is a vertical transverse section taken on. line Y Z, Fig. 1.

In the drawings, a is the bed, and b is the lever, which is pivoted tothe bed at either of holes 1 2 3. c is the cutting-blade, which issecured in holder (1, which is secured at any desired position upon thelever by set-screw c, which bears against gib h. The knife 0 is securedin the grooves in the holder and cap g by set-screw f, as shown in Fig.3. i is the cutting-block, which rests upon the bed, and is secured inany desired position by set-screw 7:, which is threaded in the top ofbracket j, through which the block passes. Z is a fence or guide,against which the picket bears when being shaped. m is an adjustablekeeper secured to fence Z. The picket, being placed under this keeper,is thereby prevented from rising when the knife acts upon it. n is astop, which insures a vertical position of the lever, and a horizontalposition of the knife when the lever is raised. This stop may be formedupon holder (1 or fence I, as desired.

As before intimated, by pivoting lever ll nearer to or farther from thetop of the bed, then, with the knife at the same distance from thebed,diifcre1'1t forms of heads can be cut.

The block i is to be so adjusted as that the knife shall reach it at avertical point above the bed which is equal to half the width of thepicket, so that when the two edges of the picket have been thus cut itshall present two intersecting arcs of a circle, and yet no materialdecrease in its length shall have taken place.

By the peculiar form of holder d, it is se cured in any desired positionupon the lever by a single set-screw, while,by reason of the grooves inthe holder and cap g, another screw secures the cutter in place, and theincline, or chip-breaker, prevents all clogging or undue strain upon thecutter.

The stop n, by arresting the lever in a ver tical position, insures theproper position of the cutter for the ready insertion of the picketbeneath it.

I claim as my invention- 1. The bed a, lever 12, and holder (1, whenconstructed, combined, and arranged to operate substantially in themanner described and shown. s

2. The cutter-holder (I, having stop it, and formed to receive lever 11,and with cap g, provided with parallel grooves to receive the out ter 6,substantially as described and shown.

ANDRETV BURNHAM.

TVitnesses WM. W. BURRAGE, T. W. PORTER.

